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Hi! In October 2010, I moved from San Francisco to Manhattan with my husband, daughter, and twin boys. Since then I've been busy teaching myself and my kids how to hail a cab, fly a kite in Central Park, and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge with style. And a few other things. I write about those other things here. Thanks for stopping by!
Email questions to sharonbeesley@gmail.com.

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4/23/12

My First Field Trip as a Chaperone: The Bronx Zoo

I joined Ella and her class on a field trip to the Bronx Zoo on Friday. It was my first time experiencing field trips as a chaperone. Ella was so excited to have me join her, she woke up early and everything. I love having such a big fan. I hope it lasts!

I was kind of nervous to join her class. What would be my responsibilities? Would I have a group to my own? Luckily, the day was totally smooth and enjoyable. I have her lead teacher to thank for that. I could tell that she has the kids on a solid routine, because even on a day when everything is thrown off, the kids remained cool. Even so, I was exhausted at the end of the day. And I forgot: school buses are so bouncy! Imagine driving one in NYC? Scary!

My favorite part of the day was watching Ella's class walk two by two, holding hands everywhere they went. Skipping together. Pointing out things to their partner. Made my heart melt. Most of the pairs are boy/girl, and they didn't think anything of it. I wonder if this is the last year. When do things get awkward between boys and girls? Everyone in Ella's class was completely oblivious! Ella's partner is so sweet. He offered to hold her red lunch box the whole time.

I adore her class and joining her on this trip confirmed that she's getting a really good education. Her two teachers are great, her class has a really good chemistry, and they have access to so many amazing opportunities in the city. Ignore everything you read/watch/hear about the NYC public school education system. My experience has been anything but amazing for her.

What are the public schools like where you live? Do they get a bad wrap, too? Deserved or undeserved?

Yes! San Francisco’s public schools get a really bad rap. I will say the application/assignment process was a nightmare and there are some schools in the district that deserve the bad reputation, but we persevered and ended up with a wonderful, sweet little school that we are delighted with. And I have found that the school is providing a lot of amazing opportunities for my daughter. She’s only in kindergarten and gets to study traditional Japanese dancing and karate after school. And this summer she will get to learn Irish hurling from professional hurlers from the Gaelic Athletic Association. The summer school program is amazing and so cheap!I am chaperoning my first field (to the zoo!) trip next month. Exciting and yes, a little scary. I took the day off work a few weeks ago to be the room mother for a day and my daughter was so excited! I love this age. It looks like you had a wonderful day! Your daughter's class looks so sweet!

We are pulling ours out after this year to home school. I've loved their teachers but they have so many things beyond their control. I guess my biggest complaint is teaching to the lowest common denominator. Because my children arent behind they are sent to the gym for an hour a day so their teacher can focus on the three that are behind. That did it for me. I will be leaving my job to do this which makes me sad. But their education must come first.

This post is so timely...I'm getting ready to move soon and am in the midst of debating public school versus a semi-affordable private option. If we go public, we would need to move out of the area we're in now which I'm not too happy about. I really wish we had better options for our kids! Glad you're experience is going well.

And what a cute recap of Ella's field trip. School field trips are among some of my fondest memories!

Great stuff! I still haven't been on a daycare field trip. Philly schools get a VERY BAD rap. We still have 2 years until Kindergarten, but I'm already getting involved with our neighborhood school. It seems like a perfectly fine place, and we're all for giving it a try. I'm very glad you and your kids have had a good public school experience so far.

We live in Charleston, SC, and while there are a few excellent magnet/public schools here, we do not live in a good district. So, we send our daughter to a private school, and we could not be happier. Our hope is that our district will improve.

My daughter is in a San Francisco public school...I get to chaperone a trip to the SF Zoo on Friday...with 88 kindergarteners! Despite the school being big, it's well run and my kid loves it. I spend a lot of time in her class as a volunteer, I know that she is getting a good education, in addition to being exposed to all kinds of people and new experiences.

I'm a public school teacher in Canada, and I find that it's a tough balance - so many personalities in one room sometimes! So many needs! It's great parents that make days that can be tricky (like field trips) feel so easy - you are appreciated!

P.S: Is Ella in grade 1 or 2? I feel like it's grade 3 when the whole boy/girl divide starts happening. I know right? Say it aint so!

i'm living in québec city and i send my three boys to the public school. The school and the teacher are really great and the wednesday they are off school so they can participate in school to sport or cultural activities like circus, soccer, iceskating, dancing, etc, The kids always love that break of school of wednesday afternoon. Beside the school, i think the most important thing is the sense of community they developed with others kids, parents and the neighbourhood!!!! Now the olders are in highschool, one in a public school and the other at a private school in our neighbor. And they continue to be friend with their friends from elementary school!!!! I love your blog! Your honesty and your kindness touch me a lot. My best

So cute! I like going on field trips too but I agree, the bus ride is horrible. People always say they don't pay teachers enough but those bus drivers are saints! I feel like such an old lady for saying this but I think it's a bit much that our public school busses have air conditioning. If kids now can't handle sweating a little with the windows down they need to toughen up a bit. Anyways, enough of my rant, I love those pictures and glad you had a good time!

Sharon I LOVED this! My older 2 are long past the field trip stage so having Noah again makes me so happy to know that moments like these are in my future! And again, your photography is just fabulous - I love the pictures! :)

I love you pictures! Your daughter is SO cute! I went to High School in New Mexico in a district that was supposed to have some of the worst public schools in the country. My high school almost lost its accreditation twice while I was attending. To be completely honest, I think I got a great education in high school. I think so often education is what we make of it! I am now almost finished with my PhD in Chemistry and I fell in love with chemistry and math during high school. Anyway, I am glad that you have had a great experience with NYC schools!

The pics of this are adorable. We are trying to avoid public school til middle school, not because it's not that great but so we can have our boys recieve a Montessori education which I am head over heels for!http://knownitwasyou.blogspot.com/

This is adorable! My Husband is a 4th grade teacher at a NYC Public School in Manhattan and it's such a tough job! He works so hard and has such passion and love for his students that it can be really defeating to hear so much negativity about the system. It's nice to hear such a positive experience! If we stay in the City, our boys will be public school kids, too. And I look forward to it! Thanks for sharing this!

Where i live, most schools are public. When i was in school we knew no such thing as private school, but during last few years they are appearing slowly. It's still considered quite posh to have your kids in private school.